Rapid diagnostic test for neospora caninum infections in animals

Abstract

This invention relates to a kit for rapid detection of Neospora caninum infections in animals, especially cattle. The kit is based on a latex agglutination assay to carry out an on-site test which employs negative and positive control samples to identify said infections. Serum taken from the animal is mixed with prepared latex beads containing which is then incubated for a few minutes to detect clumping of the beads.

1 . A diagnostic kit for detecting the presence of  N. caninum  infection in animals, said kit comprising, 
 latex beads, slides for analysis, and positive and negative control serum samples.    
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein said latex bead have purified  N. caninum  proteins thereon.  
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 1  and including mixing sticks for mixing serum taken from the animal and the latex beads.  
     
     
         4 . A method of diagnosing an animal to ascertain the presence of  N. caninum  infection therein, said method comprising 
 taking a serum sample from the animal,    mixing said sample with a solution containing latex beads with purified  N. caninum  proteins thereon,    comparing solution samples with positive and negative control serum samples to ascertain the presence or absence of infection.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said comparing step involves analyzing slides with samples of said solution with said control samples on glass slides.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said purified expressed  N. caninum  proteins are produced as fusion proteins in  Escherichia coli  using commercially available expression systems.